Chapter 70

As Latil looked at the map and climbed the mountain with ease, the knight followed behind, marveling.

"Your Majesty, you read the map well and are also a skilled climber."

'You read the situation well and are good at flattery.' Latil muttered to himself as he took out a handkerchief to wipe his damp forehead. When he looked up, the clouds seemed much closer. Looking down, the villagers were so small they looked like ants walking on two legs. Latil checked the map again, confirmed the direction, and then continued walking.

"Let's go. We need to arrive as soon as possible."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

When they started climbing, the sky was a light blue, but by the time they reached the place indicated on the old map, it had turned a light purple. The mountain was steep and high, but more than that, the cave entrance was cleverly hidden, which had cost them a lot of time. Latil was sure they had passed by the cave entrance at least five or six times without noticing it.

"We might have to camp here."

Latil muttered, looking up. The sky was darkening rapidly, as if it were sucking up every last bit of light. Night would soon fall. The dark forest was dangerous. Wild animals and monsters could appear from anywhere.

"It won't be visible inside, so it's better to go in with a light."

The knight lit a lantern and handed it to Latil, while he himself held a torch, likely to use as a weapon in case of any wild animals inside. Latil carefully folded the map and put it away, then took the lantern in one hand and stepped into the cave. Traps that shot arrows when stepped on, walls that gradually narrowed, floors that collapsed when misstepped, killer golems activated by touching the wrong gem, moving mazes... As Latil entered the cave, he recalled all the dangerous dungeons from hero stories.

'I have an ancient map that was auctioned, made in a fallen kingdom, and coveted by villains, so it might be as dangerous as those dungeons.'

"It's quite humid, but otherwise, it's fine."

"Indeed."

However, unlike the difficult search for the entrance, the inside of the cave was free of any of the dangers Latil had expected. The path was as treacherous as the outside, making it easy to slip and fall, but there were no golems, traps, or monsters. When they finally reached the end of the cave, neither Latil nor the knight had even a scratch. It was fortunate. Latil thought to himself as he looked at the box at the end of the cave. The floor at the end of the cave rose sharply, about 40 cm wide and reaching up to Latil's stomach. On top of this protruding part was a beautiful black-painted box. It was intricately crafted with gold leaf decorations, looking expensive despite the signs of age. Latil was relieved to see it was old; if it had been a pristine new box, he might have suspected someone had come before and switched it.

"Did you come to find this?"

As Latil stared at the box, the knight tilted his head and asked. He had wondered what Latil was planning to do, sneaking out while leaving Prince Leann in charge of state affairs. Was it just to get a small box? The knight seemed puzzled.

"I don't know. I hope so."

Latil muttered and pressed the button on the front of the box. A 'click' sound was heard as a pin fell, and the lid of the box lifted slightly. When Latil fully opened the lid, a 'creak' sound was heard.

'What is it?'

Latil stared at the object inside the box. It was a mask, covering half of a face. What was unusual was that while the box was ornate, the mask had no patterns and looked brand new, unlike the aged box.

"Is it a valuable item?"

The knight asked, not finding it valuable at all.

"I hope so..."

Latil frowned as he looked at the mask. It didn't look valuable to him. Could the enemies have come first with a different map, taken the 'real contents' of the box, and left this behind? The knight, seeing Latil's uncertainty, put down the torch and asked.

"May I take a look if it's alright?"

"Sure."

Latil handed the mask to the knight, who took it. Since they had to stay in the cave overnight, Latil looked around for a suitable place to camp while the knight examined the mask.

'All the spots are about the same. Maybe we should go back to the entrance? But if we stay near the entrance, wild animals might come in.'

After a while, as he looked around, he saw something surprising. The knight was gone. Or rather, he was there, but it wasn't the knight Latil knew. The clothes and luggage were the same, but the face was someone he had never seen before. When Latil stared in shock, the stranger turned his head and awkwardly laughed, 'Ha ha,' while putting his hand to his face. He then pretended to take something off his face, and surprisingly, the white mask appeared in his hand.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I tried it on because it just looked like a regular mask."

The knight apologized, perhaps thinking Latil would scold him for putting on the mask casually.

"But nothing really changed when I put it on. There's nothing inside the mask either."

Latil quickly realized. The knight didn't know his face had changed when he put on the mask! So, the mask's ability was to change a person's face? Was it one of the magical items left from ancient times? Latil swallowed hard. A mask that changes faces. It was worth hiding and marking on an ancient map. Such an item could be very dangerous or very useful, depending on how it was used.

'If it fell into the hands of the enemy, it would be a disaster. They could change their faces and no one would know who the enemy was.'

"Your Majesty?"

When Latil stood there in silence, the knight called out cautiously.

"Why are you standing there?"

Latil quickly smiled and shook his head.

"No, it's just that after all the effort, we didn't get much of a reward."

"Yes, that's true..."

Latil walked over, took the mask from the knight, and put it back in the box.

"Still, we should have scholars examine it when we return to the palace."

"Yes, that would be best."

* * *

As soon as it was light enough to see, Latil and the knight descended the mountain, chewing on dried meat. They had to return to the palace quickly since Latil had left under the pretense of being ill. Although he thought his brother would handle things well, the emperor's prolonged absence would raise suspicions.

"I'll go get a carriage."

After descending the mountain, the knight went to find a carriage while Latil stayed at an inn and washed up. Latil quickly washed his body and hair, then took the mask out of the box and hid it inside his clothes. He had told the knight he would have scholars examine it, but he didn't want to do that yet. Why bother when it was such an interesting item? Latil wanted to use it practically, especially in situations where he didn't know who the enemy was.

'I might be able to use this to identify the enemy.'

A short while later, the knight returned with a carriage and horse. Latil told him to wash up and bought some food before entering the carriage to wait for him.

"We're leaving, Your Majesty."

On the way back from Carisen to Tarium, Latil fiddled with the mask, testing how it worked. Using a small mirror, he confirmed that his face changed when he put on the mask. The face the mask created was surprisingly unremarkable, the kind that wouldn't stick in your memory even if you saw it. It wasn't just about the features; it was the aura.

'Is this also an effect of the mask?'

* * *

Thanks to their continuous travel, Latil and the knight returned to the capital in a short time.

"I'll sell the horse and carriage again, Your Majesty."

"Do so."

Latil stayed at a nearby inn to rest and listen for any rumors about the emperor's disappearance, but fortunately, there were none. Relieved, he washed up, changed clothes, and entered the palace with the knight.

"Thank you for your hard work."

"It was an honor to accompany Your Majesty."

"Go rest today. You must have been tired these past few days."

"Yes, Your Majesty, please rest well too."

Latil patted the knight's shoulder, who hadn't slept well for days, and walked to the palace corridor leading to his bedroom. As he walked, he thought of Sir Seon.

'What will Sir Seon say?'

He couldn't keep it a secret from Seon, who would be completely speechless when he found out Latil had secretly visited Carisen with Leann. He might even be angry.

'Now that I think about it, I've never seen Sir Seon angry. He's always so sly.'

Latil chuckled and took off the cloak that had hidden his face. As he climbed a few stairs, he saw his bedroom door at the end of the corridor. However, as he walked, he felt a burning gaze on his face.

'What is it?'

Was it because the supposedly ill emperor was walking the corridor? The courtiers passing by all greeted him, but their faces were shocked. When Latil turned his head, they quickly bowed and hurried away.

'Why are they acting like that?'

Their behavior was not how one should treat the emperor, making Latil feel uneasy.

'Has something happened? Did it not spread outside the palace?'

Anxiety made his heart race and his stomach hurt. Latil quickened his pace and ran to his bedroom. But as he arrived, a maid opened the door and, upon seeing him, dropped her teacup, covered her ears, and screamed.

"Aaah! He's here! He's here!"

Latil was confused. 'Here'? What was here?

"What are you talking about?"

As Latil stepped forward to ask, the maid screamed even louder and ran back into the room, slamming the door shut. Latil was stunned.

'Why is she acting like that?'

Before he could be stunned further, the guards on either side of the door drew their swords and glared at him.

"What are you doing?"

Latil, angry and frustrated, asked. The guards exchanged glances, startled. Latil, even more bewildered, knocked on the wall.

"What are you doing? Have your eyes gone bad in a few days? Who are you daring to point your swords at?"

His voice had become low and cold. Initially, he was bewildered, but now he was angry. The guards, seeing this, exchanged confused glances.

"Don't be fooled."

Then, a familiar yet strange, peculiar voice from inside the room gave a firm command. It was a strange voice, not because it was unusual, but because of how Latil felt when he heard it. He understood why when he saw the person who spoke.

"!"

The face of the person who opened the door, the face that gave the command to the guards, was none other than Latil's own. Even the voice was the same as his.

'What is this...?'